Interested in public policy? The DC budget? DC children, youth, and families? Information and intelligence that improves advocacy is the stock in trade of this blog.

Monday, April 18, 2011

April 18 budget update

Mayor's budget town halls: The town halls start in Ward 3 on April 21; the mayor's team will travel to each ward to brief the community on what is in the FY 2012 budget proposed by Mayor Gray. The schedule was posted on this blog April 14.

Briefing on the DHS proposed FY 2012 budget: DCFPI is hosting this budget briefing with Deborah Carroll, Interim Director of the Department of Human Services April 21, from 9:30 – 11:00 am at DC Fiscal Policy Institute (820 First Street, NE 4th Floor). This is your chance to hear a discussion of proposed changes to agency programs, including cuts to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Interim Disability Assistance and homeless services.

RSVP to Aleksandra Gajdeczka of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, via email. If you have questions, submit to Aleksandra Gajdeczka by April 19. They will be consolidated and shared with DHS in advance.

Agency Q&A for Gov Ops online: The agency questions and answers from the Committee to Government Operations and the Environment are online.

Walking tour of Ward 1 to learn how the proposed budget cuts will negatively affect vital services for neighbors: If you want to learn more about your community, are confused or angry about proposed DC budget cuts or don't know how to get involved, this event is for you.

Save Our Safety Net and the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative are hosting a walking tour of five organizations that provide vital services to make Ward 1 the great community that it is. Join the walk and learn how they will be affected by Mayor Gray's proposed cuts. CMs Jim Graham (Ward 1) and Sekou Biddle (At-large) are invited to the tour.

The tour starts at the Columbia Heights Metro station at 5:30 pm and will conclude at 6:30 pm. Join the hosts and walkers for Happy Hour from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at Alero Restaurant (3345 14th St NW) to learn about the history of Columbia Heights, why budget cuts matter for everyone, and how you can connect with many great organizations which will also be at the event.

To learn more or to send in a letter of support about how you or your organization will be affected by proposed cuts, go to the Save Our Safety Net website. More about the event is also on Facebook.

Catania's assessment of Department of Health Care Finance proposed FY 2012 budget: On April 14, CM Catania, chair of the Committee on Health, issued a press release following the DHCF budget hearing. The release reads,

DHCF has committed to making significant strides in coordinating with sister agencies, such as the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and Child and Family Services Administration, to increase Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by those agencies in the 2012 fiscal year. The efforts would result in fewer services being paid for with strictly local funds. Catania praised the establishment of a Medicaid Billing Task Force to work with the billing organization and all the partner agencies to increase billing to Medicaid.